Columbia Fireflies Game Notes 9.6 at Myrtle Beach
Published on September 6, 2025 under Carolina League (CarL)
Columbia Fireflies News Release
The Fireflies continue their series with the Myrtle Beach Pelicans tonight at Pelicans Ballpark at 6:35 pm. LHP Darwin Rodriguez (0-2, 5.91 ERA) takes the slab for Columbia and Myrtle Beach counters with southpaw Ethan Flanagan (5-1, 2.14 ERA).
Columbia will play their first home playoff game at Segra Park Thursday, September 11 at 7:05 pm. The night is presented by BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Federal Employee Program, who will give away neon rally towels to the first 1,000 in attendance. Buy your tickets now at FirefliesTickets.com.
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GUTIERREZ WORKS FIVE SCORELESS AS FIREFLIES CRUISE: The Fireflies got some early offense and a stellar start on their way to a 6-1 victory over the Myrtle Beach Pelicans Friday night at Pelicans Ballpark. The Fireflies have guaranteed a series split with the Pelicans after taking three of their first four games on the beach. The Fireflies offense got up and moving in the top of the fourth inning. Luke Nowak started the frame with his second infield single of the contest. After that, Jose Cerice dribbled one through the right side to put runners on the corners with no one out. Stone Russell got the party started with a sacrifice fly that plated Nowak. Later, Milo Rushford looped a two out single down the right field line to score Russell and Yandel Ricardo to advance Columbia's lead to 3-0 before the end of the frame.
ONE FOR THE RECORD BOOKS: Last Saturday night, Gonzalez broke the Fireflies career steals record in one season. Jean Ramirez had 68 steals from 2021-23 with the Fireflies. Gonzalez currently has the league lead with 75 steals. Columbia's center fielder also now owns the single-season runs scored record for the Fireflies. August 21 he scored his 71st run of the season to pass Erick Torres' 2024 mark.
NUMBERS BEHIND THE CLINCH: The Fireflies finished the first-half 36-30 to win the South Division Title for the first time in team history. It is the Fireflies first playoff berth in team history. The club will play their first home playoff game September 11 at Segra Park.
CAREER WEEK FOR RUSSELL: Last Tuesday, Stone Russell plated six RBI in the first four innings against the Hickory Crawdads. The productive evening powered Columbia to their first double-digit performance since May 3 against the Crawdads. It was Columbia's third six RBI performance of the season. Both Ramon Ramirez and Derlin Figueroa have also had a six RBI game this year. Ramirez and Figueroa both used the help of a grand slam to get their six RBI game in the first half. Russell followed it up with another pair of great outings Wednesday and Thursday. Wednesday he drew three walks and drove in two runs and Thursday he plated four RBI for the Fireflies. Overall last week, Russell is 5-12 with six walks and 12 RBI in only three contests. Russell kept his hot streak rolling with three RBI in the opener with Myrtle Beach. He has 16 RBI in his last eight games.
THE BIG PICTURE: The Fireflies have two games remaining in the 2025 season. They'll close out the year with six on the road at Myrtle Beach. The final series of the year just so happens to serve as a playoff preview for the South Division. The Fireflies will play a best-of-three series against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans beginning with a 7:05 pm game one at Pelicans Ballpark Tuesday, September 9. After that, the Fireflies will play game two at 7:05 pm September 11 at Segra Park. If a game three is necessary, it will be played Friday, September 12 at Segra Park. The winner of the three-game series will play against the North Division Champion in a best-of-three series from September 14-17.
NOWAK, RUNNING OUT OF THE GATES: Wednesday, Luke Nowak continued his torrid stretch to kick-off his professional career. The outfielder is currently riding a seven-game hitting streak and has started to find the gap more frequently. Nowak is hitting .462 with a pair of doubles and seven RBI during his hitting streak. Since August 27, he paces the league in average, on-base percentage and OPS.
Carolina League Stories from September 6, 2025
- Pelicans Team President Honored by Boys & Girls Club of the Grand Strand - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Pelicans Team President Honored by Boys & Girls Club - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Jordan Sanchez Homers Twice, But Shorebirds Fall Short by One Run - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Saturday Shutout Win Secures FredNats Winning Record in 2025 - Fredericksburg Nationals
- Mudcats Shut out at Fredericksburg - Carolina Mudcats
- Owens Tosses Two Scoreless in Loss - Hickory Crawdads
- Hujsak, Poole's Solo Shots Help 'Dogs Snap Skid - Charleston RiverDogs
- Pelicans Rally Past Fireflies to Earn 10-5 Victory - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Ballers Blow out Jackets in One-Sided Saturday - Augusta GreenJackets
- Eight-Run Sixth Sets Down Fireflies - Columbia Fireflies
- GreenJackets' Season Finale Moved up to 1:00 - Augusta GreenJackets
- Columbia Fireflies Game Notes 9.6 at Myrtle Beach - Columbia Fireflies
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